The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, held a press conference to discuss the successful impact of the Hajj portal on Pakistani and Saudi Arabian pilgrims. He emphasized the importance of the portal in addressing the various issues faced by pilgrims during their sacred journey.
Senator Talha personally committed to facilitating direct communication with pilgrims by employing a team of information technology experts at his own expense. This team developed a state-of-the-art Hajj portal, allowing pilgrims to lodge complaints and providing the minister with a platform to monitor and address their concerns promptly.
The ministry also established complaint centers in Makkah and Madinah to further assist in resolving pilgrims’ issues. Senator Talha assured everyone that the ministry was dedicated to ensuring the provision of maximum facilities and would continue to strive for the success of the Hajj operation.
The minister shared some exciting news, stating that the ministry had already returned Rs. 4.5 billion to pilgrims. Moreover, a significant amount has been set aside to be returned to the pilgrims upon completion of their spiritual journey, providing them with a financial cushion.
Since assuming the position of religious affairs minister, Senator Talha has consistently worked to address the ministry’s challenges and discourage free Hajj trips through all possible means. He shared his personal experience, mentioning that he and his staff paid their dues at the bank to fulfill this sacred religious obligation.
Regarding the issue of tent allocations in the old Mina area, the minister informed the audience that he had written a letter to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, but they informed him that they had already made allocations based on the pattern of Hajj in 2018 and 2019. He assured everyone that the issue would be addressed next year, taking into account ground realities.
Regarding the departure of Moavineen-e-Hujjaj to Saudi Arabia, the private sector returned 13,500 Hajj quotas, while the government withdrew 6,500 quotas. As a result, 20,000 individuals were not proceeding for Hajj this year, and therefore, it was deemed unnecessary to send further assistants using the hard-earned money of the pilgrims.
Finally, Senator Talha clarified his stance on the news circulating in some sections of the media regarding President Arif Alvi’s Hajj pilgrimage. He made it clear that neither the presidency had been in contact with him nor did he have any involvement in the process.
The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony concluded the press conference by reiterating his dedication to serving the pilgrims and resolving their issues in a fair and transparent manner. In conclusion, the Hajj portal has proven to be a significant tool in addressing the various issues faced by pilgrims during their sacred journey, and the ministry remains dedicated to ensuring the provision of maximum facilities to the pilgrims.
